Five Reasons to See … Mother Adam at Jermyn Street
Charles Dyer’s black comedy Mother Adam is receiving a rare revival at Jermyn Street Theatre, where it opens tonight starring Linda Marlowe and Jasper Britton. Here are five good reasons to go along…
Charles Dyer may not be much performed of late but one of his early plays gave a young Harold Pinter gainful employment and his ‘Lonely Trilogy’ enjoyed enormous success in the 1960s, as well as drawing plenty of attention from the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. Still going strong at 84, he lives in South London in a house called Old Wob – an acronym of Wanted, One Body, his ever-lucrative early pot-boiler that helped pay for it.
2) It’s hilarious
Not only does the play boast two hilarious characters (an eccentric mother and son pairing that could easily be the love child of Dickens and The League of Gentlemen), it also plays extraordinary tricks with the English language. Any play that contains the phrase “her chin clamped like a pre-Raphaelite hinge” must be worth a watch.
3) A stellar cast
Linda Marlowe is one of our best-loved performers – well known for her work with Steven Berkoff, and in 2001 she won the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Actress. Jasper Britton is a National Theatre and RSC stalwart who has played everything from Richard III to The Cat in Honk! A rare opportunity to catch two stars in such an intimate setting.
4) Jermyn street theatre is hot
This jewel in the London theatre crown has been shining brighter than nearby Piccadilly Circus of late. Whether it’s winning awards (The Stage 100 Fringe Theatre of the Year 2012), reviving lost masterpieces (The River Line, Little Eyolf) or showcasing breathtaking new writing (The Art of Concealment), Jermyn Street Theatre has become a venue to watch.
5) A long overdue revival
Not seen in a major production since 1973 Mother Adam is a masterpiece that has been gathering dust on the shelf for too long. With our ageing population its themes and setting are more relevant today than ever – so come along to Jermyn Street to see this brilliant play brought beautifully to life.
